The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-07-14
PROHIBITION IN ATLANTA,
IEeekly Constitution.

PROHIBITION In ATLANTA.
Weekly Constitution.
The election at which prohibition was
put on trial in this city is entitled to 8
place among great events. No election
of a local nature was ever before held in
city of sixty thousand people in which
more was involved. The changes pro.
posed by it we're SO radical as 10 be
almost revolutionary. Over hundred
business houses were to be closed.
Nearly five hundred men were to be
forced to give up chosen employment
The city treasury was to be left with
forty thousand dollars less revenue.
Trade amounting annually to millions
was to be turned away from the city.
Many large business houses were to be
left unrented. Of course, movement
proposing measures so radical met with
the most spirited and determined oppo'
s;tion. Manyof our best citizens regard
ed it with outspoken disiavor.
1t was said that prohibition in city
so large as this was impracticable, that
it would not prohibit, that the trade
would be injured, that taxes would be
increased, that the stores in which the
liquor business was carried on would not
be rented for other purposes, that the
same amount of whisky would be drank
with the law as without it, the city would
only miss the revenue, that it would be
a death blow to Atlanta's progress.
1t has now been eighteen months since
the election, aud twelve months since
the law went into effect. We are pre-
pared thus from observation to note
results.
Prohibition in this city does prohibit.
The law is observed as we'll as the law
against carrying concealed weapons,
gambling, theft and other ofeDses of like
character. If there had been as many
people in favor Of carrying concealed
weapons, theft, gambling, ETC., as there
were in favor of the retail of ardent
spirits, twelve months ago, law against
these things would not have been carried
out as we'll as it was against The liquor
trade. In consideration of the small
majority With which prohibition was
carried, and the large number of people
who were opposed to seeing it prohibit,
the law has been marvelously we'll OBJ.
served.
Prohibition has not injured the city
financially. According to the assessors
books property in the city has increased
over two millions of dollars. Taxes
have not been increased. Two streets in
the city, Decatur. and Peters, were
known as liquor streets. 1t was hardly
considered proper for a lady to walk these
streets without an escort. Now they are
just as orderly as any in the city. Prop.
erty on them has advanced from 10 to 25
per cent. The loss of forty thousand
dollars revenue, consequent on closing
the saloons, has tended in no degree to
impede the city's progress in any direc-
ton. Large appropriations have been
made to the waterworks, the public
schools, the Piedmont fair and other i'm
provements. The business men have
raised 100000 to build the Atlanta and
Hawkinsville railroad. The number of
city banks is to be increased to FIVE. The
coming of four new railroads has been
settled during the year. Fifteen new
stores containing ouse.furnishiDg goods
have been started since prohibition went
into effect. These are doing we'll. More
furniture has been sold to mechanics and
laboring men in the last twelve months
than in any twelve months during the his
tory of the city. The manufacturing
establishments of the city have received
new life. A glass factory has been built.
A cotton seed oil mill is being built worth
$125,OOO. All improvement companies
with basis in real estate have seen their
stock doubled in value since the election
on prohibition.
Stores in which the liquor trade was
conducted are not vacant, but are now
occupied by other lines Of trade. Ac.
cording to the real estate men more
laborers and men of limited means are
buying lots than ever before. Rents are
more promptly paid than formerly.
More houses are rented by the same
number of families than heretofore.
Before prohibition, sometimes as many as
three families would live in one house.
The heads of those families now not
spending their money for drink are each
able to rent house, thus using three
instead of one. Working men who
formerly spent great part of their mon.
ey for liquor, now spend it in food and
clothes for their families. The retail
grocery men sell more goods and collect
their bills better than ever before. Thus
they are able to settle more promptly
with the wholesale men.
A perceptible increase has been noticed
in the number of people who ride on the
street cars. According to the coal deal.
ers, many people bought coal and stored
it away last winter who had never been
known to do so before. Others who had
been accustomed to buying two or three
tons on time, this last winter bought
seven or eight and paid cash for it. A
leading proprietor of millinery store
said that he had sold more hats and bon.
nets to laboriug men for their wives and
daughters, than before in the history Of
his business Contractors say their men
do better work, and on Saturday even.
ings, when they receive their weeks
wages, spend the same for -four, hams,
tlsrco for